Hi. We are a design/style LA based company specializing in mixing eclectic styles on moderate budgets. Also we have a strange amount of fun blogging about all our design and style adventures. Right now I’m happy to say that I’m Target’s home spokesperson, bringing accessible/stylish design to the masses.

Rustic Spanish California Home

A Simple, Eclectic Guest Bedroom

Nothing hurts my soul more than not being able to find a ‘before’ photo. Can you imagine watching The Biggest Loser and the contestant saying ‘Sorry, we forgot to take photos or weigh me at the beginning but trust me, I was a lot bigger!!’

Its just devastating. But I’ve looked through two old computers and 2 old phones and I’m now convinced that I didn’t even take before photos, in fact I’m wondering if this room actually existed before. Did my imagination dream up this room? Did I use The Secret and produce this room with my brain? Maybe. My brain be very powerful. As I’m writing this my powerful brain is renovating my disgusting bathroom. Finally, I found a (mental) contractor that is in tune with me. (Meanwhile this was all before DropBox, which I realize every single day saves my career).

Luckily this room makeover is the fastest and least dramatic of the whole house (which is why I’m posting it so fast after the living room) so a lot of process photos aren’t totally necessary. It is the guest room and you know how most guest rooms go – no splurging; just pretty and simple. Lets get into it:

After the reno was complete we just needed to get this room to be functional and ready for Shana’s family to come and visit her and her newborn (read this post if you don’t know the back story of this situation). She wanted us to focus on the other rooms first to make sure that we weren’t inspired to spend like 15K in this room. Instead we used a rug she already had (I mean, who just has these rugs just lying around in their garage?) and we custom-made a bed, changed out some sconces, dressed the bed and thats pretty much it.

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Unfortunately there is really only one angle that, because the rest of the room was just simple – a wardrobe, a bench and that’s kinda it. We are shooting the other rooms in the house tomorrow and if we have time we’ll shoot a pulled back shot of the rest of the room for you, but honestly it wasn’t totally designed so there might not be much to see.

We ordered the bed from (like the sofas) and chose this more classic, and slightly deco shape to work with the house. We pulled the color from the rug and wanted it to feel seamless with the rest of the house, so that blue was a no brainer.

Shana bought these french antique sconces from a dealer, but as you can see, when held them up we thought they just didn’t portray the french beauty that they had and went kinda ‘wanna be’ really fast, even though they were the real deal. They were candle sconces and would have had to be rewired to function so we decided that the effort and expense wouldn’t give the result that we wanted. So we nixed those and decided to do something slightly more modern with the seen on the right. still felt old world (they are aged bronze) but had a simpler shape. We kept her side tables and lamps because they were pretty great. Ready to see it transformed?

Welcome to the new guest room:

Yeah. I’d move in. We styled it pretty differently for the style book (I can’t wait to show you) but I love how they styled it, too. Here’s a secret – there is only one of those brass lamps – they must have photoshopped the other one in. How do they do that? They have the camera on a tripod and they take one photo with the lamp on the left, then they move the lamp to the right and take another with the lamp on the right and then they put the two photos together in Photoshop. I would say they were cheating except that for the book we actually made that painting larger over the bed – it’s a bit dinky as is. Magazines are full of lies. Beautiful, wonderful, eye-candy lies.

Don’t you agree that the painting should be about 10″ bigger? And how do you feel about those shades? I still kinda want to modernize them with drum shades but at the same time I think that traditional bell shades like these are coming back in so maybe in a year I’ll feel differently (but maybe not pleated?)

Right outside the guest room is the backyard and the view/light in here is just beautiful. It’s such a happy room which is why we didn’t put too much money or effort into it. It kinda looks good all the time because the light is just so beautiful.

That tassel bedding is just incredibly adorable if not perfect. It’s from and its expensive but you could that pretty easily.

Its simple, happy and totally guest friendly.

Some quick questions answered: The wall paint is Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore and the window frame color is Deep Space, by Benjamin Moore.

Regardless of the lack of ‘totally before’ photos, this transformation is still pretty satisfying, no?

Here’s a ‘get the look’. (And I read all the love for the ‘look for less’ in yesterdays post so don’t worry more of those will be coming, we just didn’t do one for this because it was just so few things).

1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9.

Happy Friday. Now go get your guest room ready because Tailor Swift and I are on our way over. We hang like that. xx

So fascinating about the photoshop lies. I knew it was rampant in beauty magazines, but never really thought about in shelter/design mags. Us regular folks just cannot escape this false perfectionism, I guess.

I’ve been reading a bunch about the changing nature of blogs (here and elsewhere), and that it is disappointing for bloggers that they are getting less feedback and response. Evidently people are flying through and not really responding. I do that and didn’t realize that bloggers don’t like the lurkers that don’t engage. So I decided I’m going to do a better job of responding to my favs, and you, my dear, are at the top of that list. Love, love getting to see your take on a different aesthetic. This room and the LR are lovely and so fresh and different from your norm. I’m excited to follow the rest of the house! I surprisingly really love the Swiss Coffee and am considering this for our bedroom. Thanks for the ongoing inspiration!

Thank you. Very much. I’m happy if you lurk and don’t comment, but when you comment I get VERY happy and it absolutely informs the content I produce. So thank you. You are allowed to comment ANY TIME YOU WANT. Its so appreciated. xx

This room looks great. I love when you explain the thought process behind your choices. I like the fact that the night stands are petite relative to the bed. Would you have chosen something different had the homeowner not already owned them and you had budget constraints? Is petite okay because it is a guest room? I’d love to hear your thoughts on why this works and how to err on the side of it looking like a conscious decision instead of looking like the homeowner just haven’t had the means or time to buy a typical size nightstand.

in person they don’t look too small, but in the photo I guess they kinda do! The headboard wall isn’t massive, certainly. Anyway, I’m a huge fan of storage in nightstands so if we had purchased it would probably have a drawer, but i love these tables. xx

You are tempting me with that idea to DIY the tassel bedding! I love how it adds a playfulness to an otherwise sophisticated room! Great job! That is fascinating about all that photoshop business, but if the idea is to present results that inspire, then it’s totally working!

So cute! I get mad sometimes about the lies (as in ) but I totally get that for a book/publication it’s different. I just resent that I have to live in a world with ugly heater vents and cords and improperly sized paintings, haha. 😉

Thank you so much for pointing out that the modern sconces actually look better! I’m obsessed with certain period antiques (Art Deco and Art Nouveau, mostly) so I need to be reminded that it’s not worth rewiring some gorgeous swoopy nouveau sconce that will end up looking dinky and wrong when you actually hang it on the wall and step back. This is a very, very good thing for me to learn!

This is lovely. I’ll be so interested to see the differences in styling from pictures in your book. (Is that blanket and striped pillow actually BROWN?) 🙂 Keep up the great work– you are such an inspiration!!

Such a pretty bright room! In both of these rooms, I’m loving the black mullions in the windows with the off-white walls – and then realizing they look great in this style of home (mimicking iron?). Have you ever used them in other styles of homes? I am not sure why this jumped out at me so strongly, but I love them now.

I used to watch you on tv when you had that show where you’d have couples pick their favorite styles and then you’d present them with their morphed style and give it a name like, “traditional meets Andy Warhol-esque” or something along those lines. Anyway, I thought you were fantastic and thankfully stumbled upon your blog. This is my first time commenting and I have to tell you how cool it is that you’re real and honest about the process – losing or never taking a “before” shot, the photoshopped lamps, saying how you’d prefer different lamp shades. I love those details because you’re being real with your readers and we get to hear about the process. That, and your general fun loving vibe (and awesome style).

I think your guest room is great!! I’d love to try my hand at a DIY fringe duvet cover, but that will have to wait until I’m decorating a guestroom for my next home. I’ll have to put a pin in this idea. I agree that 10″ bigger would be great on the painting and for the lamp shades, a drum shape would be nice, but I agree, your current shape is coming back into style (but maybe without pleats). But on the other hand, I bet these pleated lamp shades would look great dyed a deeper color. Oh, and I’ll definitely be utilizing the Deep Space paint color. 🙂 I’ve actually been searching for the perfect blue trim.

I agree with the Heather above the painting needs a frame and a mat job to up its quotient and then it would be perfect. It’s just lacking in a little “hey I’m important” factor it gets lost without a frame otherwise it’s lovely.

Another beautiful room! Wanted to let you know that you are one of my 3 teachers in my personal little design school. The others are Rosa Beltran and Jenny of LGN. People say I have the decorator’s eye, but I just can’t get certain things right and don’t know how to make the fix, and then another session in “school” and either you, Rosa, or Jenny will come up with the answer and it all makes sense. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

I wanted to say thank you for the “get the look” posts, especially the one about the living room in this house. It is so nice to get a real breakdown of costs, even more so than the “get the look for less” ones. We know you chose the pieces because they worked for the space, and not so as to copy them best, so it’s phenomenal to have this guidance when you start budgeting. What I also liked about the posts on this house is that you described how you started with the color/texture story, and thus we get to follow your creative process. And the guestroom turned out super cute. Can’t wait to see the rest of the house!

This room is definitely cozy. I’d spend a week or two there!
I have a couple of questions about the room.

1. Can table lamps and wall sconces usually co-exist on the same wall or is this because it’s a bedroom and they provide different kinds of light?

2. Did you consider painting the door to the backyard and its framing the same color as the walls or as the other windows in the room? Is the door and framing a different color because everything is so light/neutral anyways?

1. Yes, they can totally exist because they have different functions. Every room should have overhead, sconces and table lamps. Now not every room has that (I only have like 3 sconces in my house) but its so nice to have.
2. I had to scroll up to look at the picture to see what you were talking about! I didn’t consider painting it because they came white, but I see why you brought that up. I think it could go either way. xx

Is it possible to add a button following a comment that allows you to like someone else comment to show you agree? I often see comments that I fully endorse and rather than restating, I would love to check that Like button! Yes, to drum shades on the sconce but no to framing the oil painting above the bed. Amazing how just the right touch of color maintained throughout the room ties it together but in a restful way. Ooops, no pun intended!!!

Fabulously straightforward but not simple. The room is lovely, but why not frame the painting help size it up? And what goes on the second bed side table in RL? The pair of chubby lamps are the perfect lovers for the skinny sconces…I’m struggling with if it the room would feel lopsided without the PS lamp!

Yep looking good! Great job. As you say the picture is way too dinky. it looks oh so you. Okay so just wondering but when you hire a stylist or decorator, do you expect that your house will look like their style or do you expect that they will totally transform the room into your style. I mean eveyrthing I see from you looks like it has the Youxi988 stamp on it. Not judging. Just sort of curious.

Ha If you look at my portfolio there are 1 million different styles with a few similarities – vintage inspired, happy and eclectic. So yes, you must want that, but the rest of it is the person’s own style. So to answer your question – hire a designers whose style you love and if they are good they’ll give you the best version of your own style.

Love,love that tassel bedding and yes I agree the painting needs to be bigger. Could be accomplished with a large frame. The sconce shade shape does not bother me but I do think they would benefit from a simple band of color around the bottom so they dont disappear against the wall. Cute room…

That is so funny, I spent a good few minutes looking at those lamps when this came out in Country Living! I kept thinking, something is off – they aren’t at the same angle or width- so I wasn’t losing my mind. I kind of wish they had just put something else on the other table, a different lamp that coordinated, maybe a task lamp or something other than a lamp.

Lately, in my interiors business, I am trying not to obsess about perfection or style rooms too much. I know that sounds weird b/c that is kind of our job. Yes, I hide cords for shoots and design down to the details, but sometimes there is charm in a couple of happy accidents, some appeal, you know, that makes a room interesting and inviting. I like the small painting, it is what it is, and all the better if your client already owned it. I wouldn’t change the lampshade either. What guest would walk into that room as it really is and not feel welcome and comfortable. Job well done.

Thank you. I actually really like those shades now, too. They feel like she’s had them forever and that is worth something. They are in good shape, they just aren’t necessarily the totally on-trend shape and style right now. But they are good, so we can accept them anyway and that is what charm is, right?

I like what jd had to say about letting go and embracing a little imperfection. I’ve been feeling the same way as of late–especially if the “design offenders” are objects of nostalgia, family heirlooms–or anything my little girl proudly draws 🙂 These are what make our homes special. I think this room is really well executed and contains so many beautiful design elements–among which are the ‘imperfect’ ones! Nice job, Emily, and looking forward to seeing the rest of the transformation.
p.s.–I see we both made Centsational Girl’s B.O.T.B. list today. Whoop!

SO. GOOD.
Anthropologie should use your picture to sell their bedding!
Question re: get the look… The side table in the room looks like a Saarinen/style, and it’s very handsome. Your ‘get the look’ is different. Did they own that table or did you buy it and it’s pricey?? Just wondering.

Really enjoying your posts this year. Interested in learning about your decision process when decorating. Also, great to get a list of sources. Very inspiring. I would love to see more of these. Thanks!

What an amazing room!!!! I’m dying to replace my VIYNL blinds (ugh, I get so angry every time I pass by them) but they are still up because I can’t find decent roman blinds that I like, but I love these!!! Could you give me a few recommendations where I could find similar ones?

I’ve only read the first paragraph but had to immediately ask…Brian was the realtor for the sale to the current owners wasn’t he? Wouldn’t he have photos for the sale? Also I did the same thing with our house and ended up downloading the photos from the internet listing as my before photos…do the american real estate websites show sold listings?

I love every single thing about this room – I also appreciate the comment about the photo shopping in – I would have never guessed – thought that was only for 6 ft models 🙂 Really, really love your blog!

This is an out of context comment but as I read this I realized why you got mixed reviews for your craigslist posts. The posts where you described what you would do with each piece were great and weirdly helped me find jems in my own city’s craigslist. The ones where it was just great pieces but no styling advice were less great, felt like filler.

I’ve always had really warm tones throughout the homes I have lived in…lots of persian carpet/kilim colours, …..and I’m really ready for much lighter brighter colours. I love how this room uses those colours, but is still really light and bright.

I had thought I had commented, but any chance I can find out the colour the bathroom is painted? It’s not in the queue for the upcoming list of posts about this house and I’d love to know. It’s such a pretty, light, true blue.

I’m in love with everything you do but this room calls to me. If I become your personal nanny will you decorate my apartment for me?

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Hello!

Emily is a stylist, author and T.V. host with a strong commitment to vintage inspired approachable home style for every single person. Perfection is boring; Let’s get weird. learn more

Interior Design Blog by Youxi988

I started this interior design blog in 2010 as a journal of my style and home projects with the belief that design should be approachable, informational and accessible no matter what budget.

As a home style expert who has a strong commitment to peeling back the intimidating layers of the world of home decor, and showing how every person can have a beautiful home that represents their personality, no matter what the budget.

After styling for magazines and catalogues for years, I started my own interior design blog, won HGTV Design Star, and have gone on to host my own hit TV show Secrets from a Stylist, Author the book STYLED, and create the design firm Youxi988 Design.

My motto has always been to write and publish on my blog what I personally want to read about.